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Sunday, 20 June 10
OUR COAL: ITS DEVELOPMENT AND CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES
 Indonesia’s production of coal has been growing amazingly. In the mid 1980s, national coal production was less than 1 million tons per annum, whereas energy planners (in the fourth Five Year Development Plan: 1989-1994) pointed at 10 million tons as the national production target.
The current production has jumped dramatically, recorded as 237 million tons in 2008 (predicted to achieve 270 million tons this year), making Indonesia a world class producer and the largest exporter of coal around the globe. The skyrocketing growth of our coal production has also incited many controversial issues.
Coal is considered as the dirtiest among fossil fuels, making environmentalists oppose their wide use
as fuel.
However, the proposal for ceasing use of coal — power generation, for instance — would be challenged by power utilities demanding low cost fuel that coal may offer and by the government, which has the responsibility to provide electricity as well as have revenue from exploiting its energy resources.
Despite the world’s rising anxiety of global warming, IEA (International Energy Agency: World Energy Outlook 2009) statistics shows that the world consumption for coal, for the last decade, is still growing the fastest among primary energy sources.
The environmental problem associated with coal in Indonesia is not limited to green houses gases (GHG), but also damage and pollution since its exploitation, transportation and uses to post mining.
It is easy to find where many coal fields are not mined appropriately according to “good mining and environmental practices”, coal transportation is not considering safety standards and is damaging rivers, (public) roads and seashores.
The coal mining has polluted the land, water and air of especially Kalimantan, where more than 90 percent of Indonesia’s coal mining operations take place.
It is sad that many of the previous mining areas have been abandoned without being properly reclaimed, whereas thousands of hectares of the island’s tropical forests have been converted into desert.
The soaring exploitation, including its negative impact on the environment, has a strong correlation with the number of licensing/permits awarded.
The introduction of the 1999 Regional Autonomy Law, subsequently followed by the 1999 Fiscal Balancing Law between the Central and Regional Governments have — to some degree — impacted on the coal licensing regime, where larger authorities had been given to regional/local governments.
Under the new licensing regime by local governments, requirements for coal permits tend to be relaxed whereas monitoring has not been done properly.
As a result, the number of permits (Mining Authorization/KP) has been growing considerably (currently 462, of which 169 are producing), coal production increases, but also environmental problems and the issues of illegal mining exist.
The question of who really owns the KP licenses exists, which was defined as that it can be owned by Indonesian national/companies only.
While the largest part of coal in Indonesia are being produced by large companies (the holders of Coal Contract of Work/PKP2B), some coal is mined by small scale and illegal miners.
It is believed that a significant amount of coal has been produced by illegal miners (some 5 million tons annually) and part has gone to meet export demand.
Wherever in the world, illegal miners lack interest in responsible mining and mine rehabilitation practices. Illegal mining is a problem for potential investors, the environment and government revenues.
The government has introduced measures to crack down on problems, including arresting illegal miners.
However, it cannot be the only solution since illegal mining is actually rooted in underemployment, local poverty and weak law enforcement, while the number of people involved in these activities is quite significant.
An alternative to confrontation to illegal miners by the central government (who awards the large scale PKP2B mining license) should be a cooperative and more comprehensive approach.
“Despite the world’s anxiety of global warming, IEA statistics shows that the world consumption for coal is still growing the fastest among primary energy sources.”
Work together with local/rural governments and communities to reduce poverty, educate/assist the illegal miners to increase their awareness on good mining practices (including mine rehabilitation), provide transition period fiscal incentives to encourage illegal mining toward the regulated mining sector, among others.
It needs to maintain an appropriate balance between the soaring exports of coal (about three quarters of production on average) and the domestic growing demand for the same fuel.
Push for exports is still coming largely from the traditional East Asians (Japan is the largest), while the coal-hungry India and China are also increasing their demand for our coal.
The exports will be competed with by the Blue Print for Energy Management 2005-2025 pointing out that one third of Indonesia’s energy primary energy mix in 2025 is to be supplied by coal, (the current share is about 15 percent).
Even though it is often mentioned that our coal reserves are quite large (current proven reserves of 5.5 billion tons; estimated resources of 105 tones) and that our reserves for coal are much larger than that of oil and gas, we should watch their fast rate of exploitation cautiously.
It needs to recalculate the benefit of exploiting them, taking into account their damage to the environment and what is left post mining. Where have all the revenues from exploiting that coal gone? Is the escalating export not jeopardizing the domestic energy security in the near future?
We have ample experiences, for instance in exploiting the resources-rich Kalimantan. The forests, oil and gas reserves have been exploited for about four to five decades, but it seems that the island has not enjoyed the fruits of the excessive exploitation: the current regional economy remains weak, infrastructure is poor and energy supplies for local uses have not been secured.
It needs to promote the terms “resources balance, depletion, sustainability”, start internalizing the costs of environmental impact and enforce those concepts into workable policies for our coal mining development.
The writer is the senior energy planner and an economist with the National Development Planning Agency. The opinions expressed are his own.
Source: The Jakarta Post ( Hanan Nugroho)
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Wednesday, 18 December 13
DEMOLITION ACTIVITY SCALED BACK AS FREIGHT RATES RISE - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS
It's always been the case that each time we witness a spike in freight rates, demolition activity is decreasing, as owners are looking for more car ...
Tuesday, 17 December 13
NEWCASTLE COAL EXPORTS UP 37.83% WEEK ON WEEK
COALspot.com: In the week ended December 16, power plant and semi-soft coking coal shipments from the port of Newcastle in Queensland, totalled 3.45 ...
Monday, 16 December 13
SUB-BIT FOB INDONESIA COAL SWAP LOST $ 0.53 IN A WEEK
COALspot.com – Sub-Bit Indonesia coal swap (FOB) for average Q1’ 14 delivery gained $ 0.91 pmt month on month on Friday 13 December 2013 ...
Monday, 16 December 13
API 8 CFR SOUTH CHINA COAL Q3' 14 DELIVERY PRICE CLOSED $1.63 LESSER THAN Q1' 14 PRICE
COALspot.com : API 8 CFR South China Coal swaps for average Q1’ 14 delivery gained 5.34 percept month on month as on Friday 13 December 2013. ...
Sunday, 15 December 13
SUPRAMAX'S FREIGHT RALLY COMES TO AN END THIS WEEK
COALspot.com: The BDI was up by 7 pct closing at 2,330 points week on week and the cape index was also up by 10.51 points and closed at 4,246 points ...
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- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Planning Commission, India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Australian Coal Association
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- The University of Queensland
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- MS Steel International - UAE
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- White Energy Company Limited
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
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